Z21 Wilhelm Heidkamp

Destroyer

Service Data

In Service: 10 June1939 to 10 April 1940

Production Data

Ordered:
Builder: Deschimag, Bremen
Construction No: 923
Laid down: 15 December 1937
Launched: 20 August 1938
Commissioned: 10 June1939

Technical Data

Type: Destroyer / Zerstörer
Class: Zerstörer 1936

Displacement: 2,411 tons standard 3,415 tons full load
Length: 125.1 m
Beam: 11.8 m
Draft: 4.50 m
Propulsion: 2 × shafts 2 × Wagner geared turbines producing up to 70,000 shp
Propellers:
Speed: 28.5 knots
Range: 2,050 nautical miles at 19 knots
Crew: 325 men and officers
Armament:
5 × 12.7 cm L/45 SK C/34
carried 600 rounds
4 × 3.7 cm L/83 SK C/30
carried 8000 rounds
6 × 2 cm MG L/65 C/30
carried 12000 rounds
9 × 2 cm MG L/65 C/30 later
carried 18000 rounds
8 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes
8 torpedo's carried
60 mines
Armour
Aircraft:
Electronics:
Operators: Kriegsmarine
Variants:

Other: Destroyers
Articles:

History

Career

10 June1939
The destroyer Wilhlem Heidkamp is commissioned.

8 October 1939
The destroyer Wilhlem Heidkamp patrol the Atlantic along with the battleship Gneisenau, and light cruiser Köln and destroyers Friedrich Eckoldt, Friedrich Ihn, Diether von Roeder, Theodor Riedel, Paul Jakobi, Bernd von Arnim, Erich Steinbrinck and Max Schulz.

10 to 11 January 1940
The destroyer Wilhlem Heidkamp carries out mine laying operations against Newcastle. Along with the destroyers Anton Schmitt, Karl Galster, Richard Beitzen, Friedrich Ihn and Friedrich Eckold.

9 to 10 February 1940
The destroyer Wilhlem Heidkamp carries out mine laying operations along with the destroyers Hermann Schoemann, Max Schulz, Richard Beitzen, Theodor Riedel and Friedrich Eckold.

8 April 1940
The destroyer Wilhlem Heidkamp takes part in operation Weser�bung (Invasion of Denmark and Norway) along with Anton Schmitt, Georg Thiele, Diether von Roeder, Erich Giese, Erich Koellner, Bernd von Arnim, Hans Lüdemann, Hermann Künne and Wolfgang Zenker.

10 April 1940
The destroyer Wilhlem Heidkamp is engaged by British destroyers and hit by a torpedo and is broken in two. 83 crew lost. Position 68° 25N 17° 24E.

Commanders

Hans Erdmenger
Takes command on June 1939
Ends command on April 1940

Gallery

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Sources

German Warships, 1815-1945: Major Surface Vessels.
ISBN-10: 0851775330

German Warships, 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels.
ISBN-10: 155750301X

German warships of the Second World War.
ISBN-10: 0668040378

For a complete list of sources